Wednesday, September 26th. Postscript. Those in the Secret of Affairs do not scruple to assert roundly, that our present First Ministress is very notable, having this Day been at Market, bought Mutton-Chops, and Apples 4 a Penny, made an excellent Applepy with her own Hands, and mended two Pair of Breeches.

533. TO BARBEU DUBOURG 1

London, October 2, 1770

I SEE with pleasure, that we think pretty much alike on the subject of English America. We of the colonies have never insisted, that we ought to be exempt from contributing to the common expenses necessary to support the prosperity of the empire. We only assert, that, having Parliaments of our own, and not having representatives in that of Great Britain, our Parliaments are the only judges of what we can and what we ought to contribute in this case; and that the English Parliament has no right to take our money without our consent. In fact, the British empire is not a single state; it comprehends many; and, though the Parliament of Great Britain has arrogated to itself the power of taxing the colonies, it has no more right to do so, than it has to tax Hanover. We have the same King, but not the same legislatures.

The dispute between the two countries has already lost England many millions sterling, which it has lost in its commerce, and America has in this respect been a proportionable

1 From "The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin" (Duane), Phila., 1817, Vol. VI, p. 289. - ED.

gainer. This commerce consisted principally of superfluities; objects of luxury and fashion, which we can well do without; and the resolution we have formed of importing no more, till our grievances are redressed, has enabled many of our infant manufactures to take root; and it will not be easy to make our people abandon them in future, even should a connexion more cordial than ever succeed the present troubles. I have, indeed, no doubt that the Parliament of England will finally abandon its present pretensions, and leave us to the peaceable enjoyment of our rights and privileges.

B. FRANKLIN.

534. TO DU PONT DE NEMOURS' (P. C.) London, Oct. 2, 1770.

DEAR SIR,

I received with great Pleasure the Assurances of your kind Remembrance of me, and the Continuance of your Good wi!l towards me, in your Letter by M. le Comte Chreptowitz. I should have been happy to have rendered him every Civility and Mark of Respect in my Power (as the Friend of those I so much respect and honour) if he had given me the Opportunity: But he did not let me see him.

Accept my sincere Acknowledgements and Thanks for the valuable Present you made me of your excellent Work on the Commerce of the India Company, which I have perused with much Pleasure and Instruction. It bears throughout the stamp of your Masterly Hand, in Method, Perspicuity, & Force of Argument. The honourable Mention you have made in it of your Friend is extremely obliging. I was

1 From the original in the possession of Colonel H. A. Du Pont. - ED.

already too much in your Debt for Favours of that kind.

I purpose returning to America in the ensuing Summer, if our Disputes should be adjusted, as I hope they will be in the next Session of Parliament. Would to God I could take with me Messrs. du Pont, du Bourg, and some other French Friends with their good Ladies! I might then, by mixing them with my Friends in Philadelphia, form a little happy Society that would prevent my ever wishing again to visit Europe.

With great and sincere Esteem and Respect, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient

& most humble servant,

B. FRANKLIN.

535. TO MRS. DEBORAH FRANKLIN (A. P. S.) London, Oct. 3, 1770

MY DEAR CHILD,

I received your kind Letter of Aug. 16, which gave me a great deal of Satisfaction. I am glad your little Grandson recovered so soon of his Illness, as I see you are quite in Love with him, and your Happiness wrapt up in his; since your whole long Letter is made up of the History of his pretty Actions. It was very prudently done of you not to interfere when his Mother thought fit to correct him; which pleases me the more, as I feared, from your Fondness of him, that he would be too much humoured, and perhaps spoiled. There is a story of two little Boys in the Street; one was crying bitterly; the other came to him to ask what was the Matter? I have been, says he, "for a pennyworth of Vinegar,

and I have broke the Glass, and spilt the Vinegar, and my Mother will whip me." No, she won't whip you, says the other. Indeed, she will, says he. What, says the other, have you then got ne'er a Grandmother?

I am sorry I did not send one of my Books to Mr. Rhodes, since he was desirous of seeing it. My Love to him, and to all enquiring Friends. Mrs. West was here to-day, and desired me to mention her Love to you. Mr. Strahan and Family are all well, always enquire how you all do, & send their Love. Mrs. Stevenson is at present in the Country. But Polly sends her Love to you, and Mrs. Bache, & the young Gentleman. I am, as ever, your affectionate Husband, B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

536. TO THOMAS CUSHING1

London, December 24, 1770.

Your favour of October 31st came to hand a few days since, with the vote of the House of Representatives appointing me their agent here, which, as it was unsolicited on my part, I esteem the greater honour; and shall be very happy, if I can, in that capacity, render my country any acceptable service.

I have also just received your letter, of November 6th, containing an account of the state and circumstances of the province, and the grievances it labours under, with sundry depositions and other papers. Another of November 17th,

1 First published by Sparks. Mr. Cushing was Speaker of the Massachusetts Assembly, and in this capacity corresponded with Dr. Franklin during his agency for that colony in England. - S.

with a pamphlet, entitled, the "Proceedings of Council," &c.; another of November 23d, containing an order on Mr. De Berdt for papers. I can at present only say, that I shall immediately endeavour to make myself master of the business committed to my care, that so, when the Parliament and public boards, which are now adjourned for a month, shall meet again, I may be ready to proceed, in such manner, as, on conferring with Mr. Bollan, shall appear advisable for obtaining redress of the grievances so justly complained of.

I have the pleasure to acquaint you, from good authority, that the project formed by the enemies of the province, for bringing into Parliament a bill to abridge our charter rights, though at first it received some countenance, and great pains were taken to recommend it, is now laid aside. I do not presume to suppose, that the opposition I gave to it, (by showing the imprudence of the measure, and declaring openly my opinion on all occasions, that, the charter being a compact between the King and the people of the colony who were out of the realm of Great Britain, there existed nowhere on earth a power to alter it, while its terms were complied with, without the consent of BOTH the contracting parties,) had any weight on the occasion. I rather think, that a disposition prevails of late to be on good terms with the colonies, especially as we seem to be on the eve of a war with Spain; and that, in consequence of that disposition, which I hope we shall cultivate, more attention has been paid to the sober advice of our friends, and less to the virulent instigations of our enemies.

I beg you will present my dutiful respects to the House of Representatives, and assure them of my most faithful endeavours in their service. With great esteem and regard, I have the honour to be, &c. B. FRANKLIN.